Pilot killed in suspected mid-air collision identified over Kybong, Queensland

A Queensland man who died when his plane crashed into another plane, believed to be mid-air, “would have just gone there to enjoy himself”.

Bob Turner, 80, was flying in a glider over Kybong near Gympie on Wednesday afternoon when his plane crashed into a property.

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It is believed he collided with another light aircraft, which also killed a 77-year-old man.

Turner was an experienced pilot and had been chief flight instructor for the Caboolture Gliding Club.

More recently, he’s flown almost exclusively for pleasure and relaxation, said Lindsay Mitchell of Gliding Australia.

“It was good flight conditions, nice clear air, good thermals, and he just wanted to go there,” Mitchell said on Thursday.

“He would have just gone there to enjoy himself.”

Mitchell said Turner was “very thorough and very accurate” in his flying and he doesn’t know how the accident happened.

The pilot of the other plane has not yet been identified.

The Air Transport Safety Bureau, after reviewing the circumstances, decided not to open an investigation.

The federal agency says it is not mandated to investigate crashes involving most recreational, ultralight and sport aircraft such as gliders.

ATSB Chief Inspector Angus Mitchell says these types of accidents would only be investigated when resources allow and when an investigation could reveal broader safety issues.

“Sports aviation bodies conduct their own investigations into accidents involving their members’ aircraft,” he said Thursday.

“Upon request and when resources allow, the ATSB can support the investigations of sports and recreational aviation organizations by providing technical assistance such as: B. a metallurgical examination of aircraft components or the recovery of data.

“The ATSB has sympathy for the next of kin who lost loved ones in this accident and are looking for answers as to how the accident happened.”

The investigations are ongoing

Gliding Australia will assist in investigating the flight history and causal factors related to the accident.

“We are determined to understand the safety implications of this tragic accident as we focus on preventing a recurrence,” said GA President Steve Pegler.

“It is much too early to speculate about the causes. It is premature to draw any conclusions.”

On Wednesday, Police Inspector Brad Inskip said it was a “tragic accident” and that emergency responders were confronted with a drastic scene.

– With AAP